Method and mechanism for making envelopes



March 17, 1931. H RlFE 1,796,723

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR MAKING ENVELOPES Filed May 6. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l LMW %ZZL QWZE- 9 March 1% 1931. w H, E 1,796,723

METHOD AND MECHANISM FGR MAKING ENVELOPES Filed May 6. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 afia y March 17, 1931. w. H. RIFE 1,796,723

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR MAKING ENVELOPES Filed May 6. 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZiZZZa/WZZ 6 p Patented Mar. 17, 1931 I UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. RIFE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR, HAKING ENVELOPES Application filed Kay 8, 1929. Serial Io. 880,858.

The invention relates to improved methods and mechanisms for making envelopes and has for its primary object the provision of methods and means whereby envelopes of certain designs may be produced with great speed and, therefore, economicall A other object of the invention is the provision of methods and means whereby side seam envelopes having diagonal or oblique seams may be produced by the operation of rotary cutting members and therefore with great speed and economy.

Heretofore, the only envelopes produced ractically and economically at high speed y rotary cutting members have been what are termed and known as side seam envelopes in which short end flaps are formed with inner edges parallel with the sides of 0 the envelope and adhesively secured to the back flap along corresponding seams parallel with the envelope sides. may be secured either over or under the back flap, usually the former.

Such envelopes are 0 en to several serious objections. The end aps, owing to conditions of manufacture, are usually so small and short that the cannot receive sufiicient adhesive; practical y the entire backs of such 33 envelopes are formed of an unreinforced back flap and therefore lack sufiicient strength and stifi'ness to permit of their being fed rapidly and efiiciently through canceling, sealing, or stamping machines; and

3 such envelopes are not as attractive in appearance as the ordinary envelopes made with cross-seams.

Cross-seam envelopes have the seam or joint between the end and back flaps, ex-

tending diagonally or obliquely from the lower corners to or toward the upper middle of the back, and for this reason may be supplied with ample adhesive; are stiff and strong enough for feeding through canceling, sealing, or stamping machines; and

are more attractive in appearance.

As far as I am aware, all cross-seam envelopes now being made are first cut or severed in the form of complete extended separate flat blanks nd subsequently folded These end flaps advancing web and at great speed and w economy.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the methods and mechanisms hereinafter. described" and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification andin which Fig. 1, is a top plan diagrammatic view of a portion of a paper web upon which has been indicated diagrammatically the different cuts made in forming the envelopes;

Fig. 2, a partial top plan view of portions of the paper web and showing two sets of cutting rollers equipped with proper cutting elements for forming the envelopesin question;

Fig. 3, a line 33 of ig. 2;

Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the envelopes formed by my improved method and mechanism;

Fig. 5, a perspective view of a slightly different form of envelope which may be also readily formed by my improved method and mechanism;

Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig.7, illustrating another form of'cutting rollers which may be employed in the mechanism; an

Fig. 7, a view taken substantially on line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

artial sectional view taken on The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises the usual aper web 10 ordinarily supplied in rolls an con tinuously fed or advanced through the machine in the direction of the arrows indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The mechanism for continuously advancing or feeding the web 10 may consist of any of the usual or desired "Jrwith numerals corres onding in :7 is thus provided which, starting of the envelo es.

7 .5 symmetrical points 13' j rollers ll'and 12, the cutting roller 11 being arranged above the web 10and the cutting i roller 12 below the same, as indicated in-Fig.

3. The cutting roller 11 is provided on its peripher with two similar symmetrically arrange cutting knives or blades. Said blades start at the points 13 correspondin with points well within the body of the we 1 0 and symmetrically positioned relative to the central medial line of the'utilized portion thereof. Said blades extend from the points 13 helically and slightly divergently around the periphe said blades diverge sharply and helically.

flllrom the points 15 to 16, the said blades again diverge slightly and helieally, and from the oints 16 to 17 they converge .sharply an helically. From the points 17 a back to the starting points 13 the blades converge, as shown, along arched lines. The cutting blades thus provided cooperate with th lower roller 12 to p rform cuts in oppositesides of the web 10 as said web asses between said rollers, as will be readi y understood by those skilled in this art. The cuts performed in the web have been marked ene'ral with the numerals emp oyed on said l'ades. Thus the cuts rformed by the portions 13.-14 of the b ades have been labeled on the web,'13'14 ;;those-' rformed by the rtions 14-45 of the U lades have been abeled 14-15', and so on, so that the cuts r ggrformed b the portions of the blades may readil i entified.

As l be-observed, a cutting means is simultaneeouslyat two s mmetrical 'oints 13 well within the be y of the we will out two rearwardly.divergentstraight cuts 13'--14;

then two sharply divergent cuts 14'15';

' then two slightlyv divergent cuts 15-16';

then twosharply convergent cuts 1617; and then two converging arched cuts 17 ,13 to the point of beginning. The cuts a I 13 -14" thus produced outline oblique or i as diagonal edges for the back flaps 18 of the envelopes. The cuts 14'15f1617 outline end flaps-19 for the envelopes, having also diagonal or oblique edges. The cuts 17'-13' outline edge portions of the sealing will be noted, t e main 13'--14 Qsimultaneolisly and symmetrically from two located well within of the roller 11 to the- .points 1 f.- From t e points 14 to 15, the

.- 15 '[-16 arethus performed within the f body of the web, starting .and continuing the borders of the web, and continuing simultaneously and symmetrically to the points 16' just slightly within the side edges or borders of the Web, thus practically completing the entire side cuts for a single envelope unit. Owing to the fact that these cuts are made divergently, the effect of the cuts is to tend to stretch the web laterally, thus holding said web smooth and taut .during the cutting operation and preventin wrinkling, distortions or tearing of the we during such cutting operations at high speed. Owing to the fact that the cuts are performed simultaneously, the resistance or reaction from each cut counterbalances that of the other, a result which is augmented by the fact that the cuts are performed symmetrically. L

It is also to be noted that thecuts thus rformed are performed well within the ody of the web until the cuts for each envelope unit are practically completed, at which time the cuts closely ap roach the edges of the web. This has the effect of constantly maintaining the borders of the web intact during the main cutting operation and providing sufiicient strength in the borders .of the web to maintain them intact during these main cutting operations. It will be observed that when the cuts closely ap roach the borders of the web at the point 16 the main cutting operations for the sides of the envelope units have been practically completed so that there is less tendenc to strain or break the narrowed border an lesstendency for the broken border to entangle in the machine mechanism in case of an accidental break at the narrowed and consequently weakened portion. In this way, the tendency is to-constantly maintain the tension in the web uniform during the main cutti operations. It is also to be noted that t e cutters emplo ed in the main cutting operations diverge rom each other and therefore tend to free the web after the cutting operations have been completed,

anism at high speed.

After the web-leaves the cutters 11-12, it passes through suitable mechanism of an usual or desired form, not shown, whicli ap hes adhesive 21 to the inner faces of the en flaps 19, as shown.

After'receiving the adhesive 21, the web passes between a pair of cutting rollers 22 and 23, the,roller 22 being equipped on its periphery with a curved cutting blade 24 adapted and arranged to cut a curved line indicated in Fig. 1, and connectin the points 13 of each envelope unit, said 'fe 24 servin to sever each envelope unit from the web in the final operation of forming the 'envelo From t rollers 22 and 23 the severed envelopeunits pass through the usual fold- 7 ing and forming mechanism which folds the agonally extending l the envelo s.

units into the form indicated in Fig. 4: and applies adhesive to the sealing flap 20, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

This forms envelopes with oblique or diseams extending from the lower rear corners thereof diagonally and obliquely upwardly toward the central or middle portions of the backs. Obviously,

by changing the forms of the cutting bladeson the cutting rollers, the different flaps ma. be changed in form to vary the angularity of this scam as desired, so that, if desired, the seams may be so inclined as to practically meet at the tops of the backs of Thus envelopes may be produced having the hi hly desirable diagonal or oblique seams in t e back thereof from a continuously advancing web and with great speed and economy. 1

Obviously, also, by a sli ht variation readily understood by those s 'lled in this art, the envelopes may be formed, as indicated in Fig. 5, with the end flaps the back flap 18, as shown.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated another arran ment of cutting elements on the rip eries of the cutting rollers 11 and 12.

ere the upper roller 11 is provided with a male die member 25 having cutting edges 25' shaped exactl as are the cutting edges of the knife bla es 13-17 previously escribed. The lower cutting roller 12 is likewise providedv with a female die recess 26 havingsimilarly shaped cutting edges 26' cooperating with the cutting edges 25 to effect a shear or scissor action as the two rollers revolve, thereby performing precisely the same cuts in the edges of the web 10. Obviously, these cutters will produce recisely the same envelopes as are produce by the cutters already described.

While I have illustrated and described the referred mechanism and method for carrymg m invention into effect, these are capable 0 variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be confined to the precise details disclosed but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the ap nded claims.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously advancing web; substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in f both for a single envelo symmetrically located, on o 19 under Zed;

. ppositesides of the eentral linejof the utihzedjpdrtion of said web, said cuts diverging rearwardly in said web; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.

2. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaimng a con tinuously advancing web; substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web definlng the o.uter edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantial y mmetrically located on o posite sides of s the central line of the utilized portion of said web, said cuts diverging rearwardly and bein confined to the body of said web, thereby caving a central portion and marginal edges thereof intact; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.

3. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously advancing web; performing rearwardly diverging cuts in said web outlining the edges of portions of envelopes; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.

4. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously advancing web; simultaneously performing rearwardly divergin symmetrical cuts in said web outlining the edges of portions of envelopes; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.

5. The combination with means for supporting and maintaining a continuousl advancing web of means for substantialf y multaneously performing oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantially s mmetrically located on opposite sides of t e central line of the utilized portion of said web, said cuts diverging rearwardly in said web; and means for subseguently trans versely seafaring said web to orm separate combination with means for supporting and maintaining a continuously advancing web of means for substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantia e central line of the utilized portion of said web, said cuts diverging rearwardl and being confined to the body of said we until the outlining cuts have been completed; and means for en uently transve'rsely severing said web to orm separate envelope blanks. t 7. The combination with means 'forsnp porting and maintaining a continuously'ad symmetrically located on opposite sides of t vancing. web. of:mtahy means for substanrate envelope blanks.

tially simultaneously performing oblique 8. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously adyancin web of aper of a width just sufiicient'to orm'sing e envelope blanks therefrom; substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web vdefining the outer edges of both the end andback flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantially symmetrically located on opposite sides of' the central, line of the utilized portion of "saidweb" and extending thence obliquely to form .two of'said outer edges; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks;

9. Thelmethod of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously advancing web of paper of a width just sufficient to form sin 1e envelope blanks therefrom; substantia ly simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said the outer'edges of both'the end and back ap's for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantially sym metrically'located' on opposite sides of the central line of the utilized portion of said web and extending thence obliquely to form two of said outer edges, and at the same time transversely stretching the web 1; and subsequently transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.

l0. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintaining a continuously advancin web of paper of a width just suflicient to orm single envelope blanks therefrom; substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two-points substantially symmetrically'loc'ated on opposite sides of the central line of the utilized portion of said web and extending thence obliquely to form two of said outer edges, said cuts diverging rearwardly in said web, thereby transversely stretching the web; and subseuently transversely severingsaid web to orm separate envelope blanks.

means for mounting and maintaining a saidweb to form sepa-' 1 ing a continuously In an envelope machine comprising width just suflicient to form single envelope blanks; means for substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both end and back flaps for a single envelope unit com-' mencing at two points substantially symmetricall located on opposite sides of the central line of the utilized portion of the web and extending thence obliquely to form two of said outer edges, and at the same time transversely stretching the web; and means for transversely severing said web to form separate envelope blanks.. I

' 13. In an envelope machine comprising means for mounting and maintaining a continuously advancing web of paper of a width just sufiicient to form single envelope blanks; means for substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in saidweb defining the outer edges of both end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencin at two points substantially symmetrical located on opposite sides of the central line of the utilized ortion of the web and extending thence ob iquely to form two of said outer edges, said cuts diverging rearwardly in said web thereby transversely stretching the web; and means for transversely severin said web to form separate envelope blanli s.

14. The method of cutting envelopes which consists in providing and maintainadvancing web of paper of a width just suflicient to form single envelope blanks therefrom; substantially simultaneously performing oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantially symmetrically located on opposite sides of t e central line of the utilized portion of said web constituting the outer corners of the back flap of the envelope, and extending thence obliquely to form two of said outer edges, said cuts diverging rearwardly infirst mentioned cuts to form the outer edges of the side flaps of the envelope, then converging sharply and shortly-to the point of beginning completing said side flaps and commencing slightly the front flap of the envelope, but leaving the major portion of said web intact, thereby transversely 5 stretching the web; and subsequentl transversely severing said We?) to comp ete the frontflaps of the envelopes and to form separate envelope blanks.

15. Inran envelope machine comprising means for mounting and maintaining a con tinuously advancing web of paper of a width sufiicient to form single envelope blanks; a pair of co-operating rotary cutters equipped with cutting means arranged to perform substantially simultaneously oblique cuts in said web defining the outer edges of both the end and back flaps for a single envelope unit commencing at two points substantially symmetrically located on opposite sides of the central line of the utilized portion of said web, constituting the outer corners of the back flap of the envelope, and extending thence obliquely to form two of said outer edges, said cuts diverging rearwardly in said web to complete the outer edges of the back flap of the envelope, then diverging sharply to offset outwardly the next cuts, then diverging in directions parallel to said first mentioned so cuts to form the outer edges of the side flaps of the envelope, then converging sharply and shortly to the point of beginning completing said side flaps and commencing slightly the front flap of the envelope, but

leaving the major portion of said web intact, thereby transversely stretching the web; and a pair of co-operatin cutters arranged at a distance from said rst mentioned cutters and also arranged for transversely severing said .web to complete the front flaps of the envelope blanks.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I atfix my signature this 20th day of April, 1929. i

WILLIAM H. RIFE. 

